Father Unknown by Lesley Pearse

costumes, screaming with laughter. As Ellen lay on her back floating in the water, she couldn’t remember ever being so happy before. The thought of six whole weeks of holiday, a job and money to spend was wonderful. Everything seemed magical that afternoon, the sea was a calm clear blue, with a heat haze shimmering over the rocks. She and Josie played childish games, ducking under the water and grabbing each other’s legs, climbing on each other’s backs and having wild water fights. Later they lay on the baking sand with their toes just in the water, and for the first time ever they revealed to each other how they felt about their parents.
    ‘It’s Mum who spoils everything,’ Josie admitted. ‘I used to think it was because Dad was mean to her, but now she’s gone I can see who really starts it all.’
    ‘She can’t help it, I suppose,’ Ellen said. She was so happy that, old grievances had disappeared. ‘I don’t think she was ever cut out to be a farmer’s wife. I reckon she must have married him thinking she could change the way he lived.’
    ‘She told me a while ago that she still feels the ghost of your mother around,’ Josie said, and giggled. ‘Does he ever talk to you about her?’
    ‘No, never,’ Ellen said and told Josie what was said between them the day she found out Violet was her stepmother. ‘I don’t even know where she is buried.’
    ‘Don’t you?’ Josie said in surprise. ‘She’s in the graveyard by the church. Not right in the churchyard, just outside. Mum said she couldn’t be buried in consecrated ground because she took her own life.’
    ‘Why didn’t you tell me before?’ Ellen asked. It stung to think of anyone being put into unhallowed ground, and even more that her younger sister knew this, but she hadn’t been told.
    ‘Mum said I wasn’t to, and I didn’t dare,’ Josie said, looking a little shamefaced. ‘I’m sorry, but I thought you would have found out by now.’
    ‘Don’t let Mum get in between us any more,’ Ellen suggested. ‘I’m sure that’s why Dad is mean to you sometimes, because he knows Mum’s mean to me. If we stand together maybe it will stop for good.’
    Josie nodded agreement. ‘Don’t you wish we had a normal mum and dad, lived in an ordinary house and stuff?’
    Ellen had wished that countless times in the past, especially in the days when they had no electricity and only an outside lavatory. She would look at the modern houses in Falmouth with their neat gardens and white nets at the window and ache for the comforts other children took for granted. Yet another part of her knew she and Josie had some things lots of kids would die for – this beach, the animals, woods and cliffs. Those other kids might have televisions, record-players and a home that was always clean and tidy, but that might be very dull sometimes.
    ‘Sometimes, but we haven’t got ordinary parents, so there’s not much point in wishing for them. Josie, we’ll set the world alight, you and I –, you’ll be a famous model and I’ll be –’ She stopped short, suddenly aware she didn’t really know what she wanted to be.
    ‘What are you going to be?’ Josie asked, sensing her sister hadn’t got a clear picture.
    ‘I don’t know, maybe a teacher or something like that.’
    ‘You won’t get it if you don’t want it bad enough,’ Josie said. ‘I go to sleep every night imagining myself modelling on a catwalk.’
    They lapsed into companionable silence then, letting the sun’s rays toast their skin. But Ellen was a little disturbed to find she hadn’t got any clear idea about what she wanted to do with her life. It was as if she couldn’t see further ahead than just going back to school in September to be in the sixth form.
    They walked back to the farmhouse later, their arms linked, singing the Gerry and the Pacemakers’ song ‘I Like It’ at the top of their lungs.
    Suddenly Josie broke off and prodded Ellen. ‘There’s a car. Who’s